markham



(No Model.)

- J. H. MARKHAM.

ELEOTRO THERMAL VAPOR BATH.

Patented Sept. 27,1881.

Jf, 5' WITKESSBS INVENTOR I I A d W J a MM 1 V ATTORNEYS.

' UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. MARKHAM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ELECTRO-TH ERMAL VAPOR-BATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,670, dated September 27, 1881, Application nia June 15, 1881. (No model.)

State of Missouri, have invented certain useful Improvements in Electro-Thermal Vapor- Baths, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved chamber for taking steam, hot-air, or vapor baths, and for treatment with electricity.

The invention consists in a portable bath chamber with a removable top and a hinged front, and with apertures in the sides and rear, closed by sliding shutters, through which apertures the attendants pass their arms to rub the patient, sitting on an adjustable bench, under which there may be one or more lamps for producing the desired fumes or vapors which are to act on the patients skin. A flat steam-receptacle rests upon the floor of this chamber and has the front partot'its top hinged, whereas the rear is perforated and covered bya sliding plate, by means of which the quantity of steam passing from the steam -receptacle into the chamber can be regulated, the steam being conducted into the receptacle by suitable tubes. The chamber is also provided with electrodes on the top of the seat, on the rear wall of the chamber for the back of the patient, and on the lower part of the front wall of the chamber for the patients feet, all these electrodes being connected by suitable wires with a battery or batteries.

111 the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved electro-thermal vapor-bath. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The bath chamber or closet A is provided with an inclined removable top, A, having a semicircular notch, A ,in its upper edge, which notch, united with a like notch in the fixed top board, A of the chamber, forms a circular opening for the neck of the patient. The lower edge of the removable top A rests against the upper edge of the front B, hinged to the bottom 0 so as to open to the outside. This front is held in the raised position by means of hooks B on the doors D, hinged to the front ends of the sides D D of the chamber A.

The hinged front B is provided with a downward-swinging small door, E, which is locked 'by a hinged rail, E, flush with the upper edge of the swinging front B. Y

The removable top A, the sides D, and the rear wall, D, of the chamber A are each provided with an aperture, F, closed by sliding gates F, through which apertures the attendant passes his arm to wash and rub the patient.

A flat steam-receptacle, G, rests on the bot-- tom 0 of the chamber A, and the front part, G, of the top of this receptacle is hinged so as to permit turning it upward, as shown in dotted lines. The rear part, G of the top of the receptacle Gr is perforated, and can be covered, more or less, by means of a sliding plate, H, which can be passed in or out of the chamber A from the rear. Steam is admitted into the receptacle G through one or more pipes, J.

A seat is formed of a board, K, resting on two vertically-adj ustable metal transverse bars, L, passing through apertures in the standards of a frame, M, resting on the bottom 0. A lamp, N, or small furnace rests on the base of a tripod-frame, 0, under the seat-board K, upon which frame 0 a metal plate, P, is placed for receiving the sulphur, herbs, gum, &c., of which the fumes are desired.

A movable electrode, Q, consisting of a metal plate, is suspended from a wire, Q, and an electrode, R, is suspended from a wire, R, be- 7 low the wire Q, both on the inner surface of the rear wall of the chamberA. Two electrodes,

S S, are attached to the transverse bars L, and are bent over the tops of the seat-board K, and an electrode, T, is attached to the lower end of the inner surface of the swinging front B of the chamber A. All these electrodes are attached to wires U U, leading to a battery. Any of these plates can be detached at will.

The rear wall, D of the chamber Ais provided with an aperture or opening, V, closed by a slide, V, through which opening the attendant can regulate the lamp N and the ma terial to be placed on the plate P above it.

The bath-chamber is used in the following manner: The removable top A is removed, and the small door E is opened to allow the patient to enter, upon which the chamber is closed; but if helpless invalids are to be placed into the chamber, the top A is removed, the hinged front B is lowered, and the side doors, D, are

2 Macao opened, so that two attendants can carry the patient into the chamber. Steam passes into the chamber from the steam receptacle G through the perforated part G of the top, and the quantity of steam admitted into the chamber can be regulated by opening this perforated part G of the top of the receptacle G more or less. The front part, G, of the top of the receptacle G is opened, as shown in dotted lines, when the patient is to place his feet into warm water contained in the receptacle G. As stated, any desired kind of chemical can be placed upon the plate P after opening the slide V. The fumes formed in the chamber will not be breathed by the patient, as the patients head projects out of the top of the casing.

The electrodes can be removed at will, or can be shifted to suit the patient, who can rest his back and feet against the electrodes with more or less pressure, according to the current desired.

The seat K can be adjusted higher or lower, so as to suit a child as well as a full-grown person.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a bath-chainber, the combination, with the removable top A, of the hinged door E and the hinged rail E, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a bath-chamber, the combination, with the removable top A, of the hinged front- B and the doors D, hinged to the sides D, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a bath-chamber, the combination, with the steam-receptacle G, of the hinged part G, the perforated part G and the slide H, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the steam-receptacle G and pipe J, of the evaporating-pan P, tripod O, and lamp N, substantially as described, whereby acombined steam and medicated-vapor bath may be administered.

5. The within-described bath, consisting of chamber A, having inclined top A and doors E E F F V, steam-receptacle G, seat K, footrest T, and evaporator P O N, and electric connections, substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOHN H. MARKHA'M.

Witnesses:

W. W. GRAHAM, THOMAS KING. 

